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Children in need numbers fall but still higher than pre-pandemic levels

1 min read Social Care Children's Services
The number of children in need of support and protection has fallen over the last year but is still higher than pre-pandemic levels, latest data shows.
The number of children in need has remained above 400,000 for each of the past two years. Picture: AdobeStock
The number of children in need has remained above 400,000 for each of the past two years. Picture: AdobeStock

Department for Education figures published today (Thursday) reveal that there were 403,090 children in need at the end of March this year, which is 1,220 fewer than at the same point in 2022.

However, this year’s figures are still up on those from before the pandemic. At the end of March 2020, there were 389,260 children in need.

https://www.cypnow.co.uk/features/article/legal-update-keeping-children-in-care-safe 

Furthermore, this is the first time that the number of children in need has topped 400,000 for two consecutive years in the last decade. Apart from the last two years, the only other time the number reached this total was in 2018, when 404,710 children were classified as in need of help and protection.

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